Getting Sewer Inspections Before Buying

Cautious home buyers would never buy an older home without getting a sewer inspection.

You might think it's overkill or not a worthwhile expense to get the sewer inspected, but I advise all my buyers to do it, especially if the seller disclosures don't give any information about the age of the sewer line. When I bought my existing home, I was living in another state and not present for the inspections. For some reason, my husband decided against the sewer inspection, so we didn't get it done.

We were just plain lucky, that's all. Because when I showed up in town the day before closing to check out the house, the seller, much to my surprise, agreed to attend the final walk-through with me. She was very helpful, pointing out how to work the spa, the water softener and the exterior lights. Before leaving, she pulled out an envelope and thrust photographs into my hand. "I thought you'd like to see where we dug up the yard to install the new sewer line," she said. That was news to me. Turned out the previous sewer line was made from Orangeburg and had completely crumbled the year before, a fact she omitted from the transfer disclosure statement . . . read more about sewer inspections.

More Articles by Elizabeth Weintraub, click below:

• How to Spot a Wet Basement
  
• Six Reasons to Inspect Attics
  
• Roof Inspections and Certifications

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